The Gospel Comes with a House Key
Conclusion: Feeding the Five Thousand (1|2)
The Nuts and Bolts and Beans and Rice
• Boundaries
• Schedules
• A Day in the Life
• False Sense of Entitlement Based on Gifts and Interests
• The Danger of Bad Habits and Hidden Sin
Pages 209-215
TOGETHER read the book (END READING AT: Die to self. Grow in Christ.) and discuss the content below.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out (try to keep it brief).
Psalm 112:5-9 (NIV) Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.
Ephesians 4:22-27 (NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Isaiah 64:6-8 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
We need God to come to us, to rescue us, because we can’t summon the strength to save ourselves, and, even if we could, we would not know where to go.
Through union with and growth in Christ, we are made new. We are redeemed, forgiven, and embraced as adopted children of God.
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your notes and pray.
Radically ordinary hospitality manifests confident trust that the Lord will care for us and that He will care for others through our obedience.
What is your response to this statement?
How can you prepare for ministry based on what you know about your personality and needs?
Sometimes it is hard to identify bad habits that are hidden by personality or history. The best way to start knowing yourself more clearly. Ask your elders and people close to you to help you identify those sins of selfish ambition that may be hidden to you. Ask. And then kill sin. Don’t excuse it. Don’t make false peace with it. Die to self. Grow in Christ.
What are your personal barriers to daily hospitality?
What do you need to repent of?
Have you taken the time to unlearn bad habits?
Have you surrounded yourself with people who encourage you toward good habits rather than enabling your bad ones?
EXTRA READING:
“Rivers of living water are to be poured out over the whole world, to ensure that people, like fishes caught in a net, can be restored to wholeness.”
- Hildegard of Bingen (1098 - 1179)